Filler block



P 1932- E. WALTER ET AL 1,876,808

FILLER BLOCK Filed Dec. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l [44, A ORNEY Sept. 13, 1932.

E. WALTER ET AL FILLER BLOCK Filed Dec. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm Y m m M a m L m N 8 A 3. id 9 0 R 4 4 o 70 9 a 8 4 z 5a /y/ l 5 j A 9 \3 0 a a Z 3 W i MW 3 ME Patented Sept. 1 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFIcE ERNEST WALTER AND ELMEE. E. KOEHLER, or NEWARK, NEW 3EEsEY, ASSIGNORS 'ro PORECEE MFG. (30., OF NEWARK, NEW J E RSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FTLLER BLOCK 7 Application filed December 4, 1929. Serial No. 411,534.

roofs made of reinforced concrete by using what is called ahollow filler block between the concrete beams. v.

Floors of this character in which filler blocks are used are made by building temporary falsework on top of which the filler blocks, or tile, are laid, leaving channels between the blocks. These channels can either run in one direction only, that is, at right an-. 'les to the supporting beams which carry the floor slab and which are called a one-way system, or, they can run at angles to each other, where the slab is supported by beams on all four sides and which are called a two-way syetem. The hollow filler blocks are laid on top of the false work so as to form channels between them. A reinforcing rod is then laid into each channel and concrete is poured into these channels until it is either level with the top of the filler blocks or with an. additional layer above these blocks.

As soon asthe concrete is set, the temporary false work underneath is removed. The result is a reinforced concrete floor 0 which is light in weight on account of the hollow filler blocks.

These filler blocks can be of such construction that they act as void producers only, or they can be made of'strong concrete, or clay, tile where the sides and the upper parts of the block work in unison with the poured concrete and assist in caring for the shear and compression stresses produced by the live and dead'load on the floor slab.

There are many various types of blocks on the market, some of which are box shap'ed and others in which the box has been cut in two and they can be made of concrete, clay, sheet iron, gypsum, paper, etc.

All these blocks can be divided into two classes: I i

Those having block to hold the concretewhen it is poured and those in whichthe blocks have flanges on the bottom, which flanges come together so as very considerably.

no flange on the bottom of the to form a complete container for the concrete.

v In the first case, it is necessary to provide temporary boards with the false work so as to hold the wetconcrete, whilethis is not anec-v essary in the case where the blocks are made with flanges on the bottom. p p

The blockswhich are on the market can also be divided into other kinds Those of short length, as usually produced on standard concrete block, or tile, machines and those which are longer, like beams, so that they support themselves on a longer span. In this latter case, they are usually reinforced with light steel rods. 7 i v ln all cases,-'t is very import nt that after the filler blocks are placed and, before the concrete is poured, that the reinforcing rods are put up in the correct position. As a rule, they have to be set a'bout inch from the bottom of the floor block so that the concrete can flow beneath the rod and protectit from corrosion, while, at the same time, acting as fireproofing. The rods have to be held sideways, as otherwise, they are liable to lay against the filler block and prevent the concrete from going between them and the block, which would weaken the construction The usual way to retain the reinforcing rods in position is by employing chairs of concrete, or steel. These chairs are laid on top of the false'work, or on top of the pro;

truding flanges, or they are hung up from the top of the block.

These methods to hold the reinforcing bars in position are slow in erection and costly. They require the shipping, handling and placing of the chairs and, in pouring of the concrete, they are liable to move, changing their positions,

. The device of our invention overcomes the thereby objectionable difficulties incident to the use of these chairsa-nd prevents a means where by the rod supporting element 'is an integral part of. the filler block, thus positively positioning and maintaining the reinforcing rods during the pouring operation.- I.

The advantages of the devices of our invention will be evident upon a consideration 1 of our specification and accompanying drawm s.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating modified forms of the devices of our invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flooring containing one form of our filler blocks.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of the filler blocks of Figure 1, prior to the introduction of the poured cement.

Figures 3 to 9, inclusive, are end views of modified forms of our filler blocks. I

The particular form of our filler blocks, shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises an I-shaped extended precast concrete member 10, in which one I-flange 11 is shorter than the other flanges 12, 13, 13, so that, when a plurality ofthe filler blocks are placed in parallel position with respect to each other, a space 14 will be formed in the upper portion of the construction, while the flanges 13, 13 will abut each other.

Cast with the filler block and integral therewith is a plurality of spaced lugs 15, 15, the upper faces of which, in the illustrated form, are inclined downwardly and a plurality of internal reinforcing rods 41, 41.

In the employment of the filler blocks of our invention, they are positioned as shown in the drawings, the ends of the blocks resting upon the temporary scaffolds 16, 16, 16, 16. Reinforcing rods 17, 17, are then placed between the blocks and rest upon the aligned lugs 15, 15. Concrete 18 is then poured through the openings 14, 14, which completely fills the space between the blocks and completely surrounds the reinforcing rods 17,17. Concrete '19 is poured between the aligned and spaced ends of the blocks and a cement layer placed over the entire construction.

When the concrete is set, the temporary supports, or scaffolds, 16, 16 are removed and there is thus presented a single span supported by the concrete permanent supports 20, 20.

It will thus be seen that our device presents a means whereby the rod supporting element is an integral part ofthe filler block, thus overcoming the difficulties incident to sepa rate chairs, or rod supports, that, because of the fixed position of our lugs, the reinforcing rod is readily placed in proper position and that it is maintained in such position during the cement pouring operation.

In the modified form of our filler block'21, shown in Figure 3, the upper faces of the lugs 22 are channeled, or dished, thus allowing the placement of two reinforcing rods 17.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 4, the filler blocks 23, 23 are of hollow rectangular shape and have a'plurality of spaced lugs 24, 24 upon the lower outside portion thereof.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 5, the filler blocks 25, 25 are of hollow rectangular shape and have the lower flanges 26, 26 and the spaced lugs 27, 27.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 6, the filler blocks 28, 28 are of hollow rectangular shape and have the upper shorter flanges 29, 29, the lower longer flanges30, 30 and the spaced lugs 31, 31.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 7, the filler blocks 32, 32 are U-shaped and have a plurality of spaced lugs 33, 33.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 8, the filler blocks 34, 34 are U-shaped and have the flanges 35, 35 and a plurality of spaced lugs 36, 36.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 9, the filler blocks 37-, 37 are I-shaped, with a straight upright portion instead of a corre sponding curved portion, as shown in Figures .1 and 2, and have the upper short flanges 38, 38, the lower longer flanges 39, 39 and a plurality of spaced lugs 40, 40.

The various modified forms of filler blocks are shown, in order to illustrate the Wide adaptability of our device, which is not lim ited to any particular form of block.

It will thus be seen that ourdevice is one of extensive usefulness and adaptability and presents valuable features not found in the previous known devices.

While we show our. device for the construction of floors, its use is not limited thereto, as it can be used with equal facility and value for the construction of walls and other partitions. i

We refer to the lugs of our device as rodsupporting lugs, although the lugs of one filler block may not support a rod, but will support a rod when used in a floor construction, as, for example, the form shown in Figure 1.

We do not limit ourselves to the particular size, shape, number, or arrangement of parts, as shown and described, as these are given simply as a means for clearly describing our invention.

WVhat we claim is 1. In a filler block, in combination, an eX- tended concrete member having a curved web extended longitudinally thereof and flanges along the top and bottom portions of said web, the top flange on the convex side of said web being narrower than the bottom flange upon that side and the top and bottom flanges on the concave side of said web being of equal Width.

2. In a filler block, in combination, an extended concrete member having a curved web extended longitudinally thereof, flanges along the top and bottom portions of said web, the top flange on the convex side of said web beingnarrower than the bottomflange upon that side andthe top and bottom flanges on the concave 'sideof said web being of equal'width and an internal reinforcing member extending longitudinally through said device. 7 1

3. In a filler block, in combination, an extended concrete member having a curved concrete member having a curved web, extended longitudinally thereof, flanges along the top and bottom portions of said web, the top flange on the convex side of said web being narrower than the bottom flange upon that side and the top and bottom flanges on the concave side of said web being of equal Width, an internal reinforcing member extending longitudinally through said device, and a plurality of spaced rod-supporting lugs integral therewith and positioned above the bottom flanges.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York, this 30th day of November, 1929.

ERNEST WALTER. ELMER E. KOEHLER. 

